Anti-platelet effects of Curcuma oil in experimental models of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and thrombosis.

Extensive research on the mechanism of action and medicinal importance of curcumin obtained from turmeric (Curcuma longa) has unfolded its potential therapeutic value against many chronic ailments. Curcuma oil (C.oil), the highly lipophilic component from Curcuma longa has been documented for its neuroprotective efficacy against rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury; however its effect on myocardial reperfusion injury remains unexplored. In the present study, effect of C.oil (500 mg/kg, po) was evaluated against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in the rat model. C.oil failed to confer protection against cardiac injury, however significant reversal of ADP induced platelet aggregation (p<0.05) was evident in the same animals. Moreover, collagen and thrombin induced platelet aggregation (p<0.001) as well as tyrosine phosphorylation of various proteins in activated platelets was also suppressed. C.oil also offered significant protection against collagen-epinephrine induced thromboembolism in mice as well as augmented total time to occlusion against FeCl(3) induced arterial thrombosis in rats. C.oil however had no effect on coagulation parameters (TT, PT and aPTT) and exerted a mild effect on the bleeding time. Bioavailability of C.oil, as assessed by monitoring ar-turmerone, α,ß-turmerone and curlone, was 13%, 11% and 7% respectively, indicating high systemic exposure. Moreover, longer mean residence time (MRT) of ar-turmerone (13.2h), α,ß-turmerone (11.6h) and Curlone (14.0 h) and plasma elimination half lives in the range of 5.5 to 7.2h correlated with single 500 mg/kg dose regimen of C.oil. In the present study, C.oil thus seems to be an efficacious and safe anti-platelet agent which was protective against intravascular thrombosis.

Antidyslipidaemic activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra in high fructose diet induced dsyslipidaemic Syrian golden hamsters.

The root of Glycyrrhiza glabra is a traditional medicine used mainly for the treatment of peptic ulcer, hepatitis C, pulmonary and skin diseases, although clinical and experimental studies suggest that it has several other useful pharmacological properties such as antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidative, anticancer activities, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effects. Glycyrrhizinic acid, a major component of licorice, has antiulcer effect by raising the local concentration of prostaglandins that promote mucous secretion and cell proliferation in the stomach. Glycyrrhizin shows hepatoprotective effect by preventing changes in cell membrane permeability, inhibiting phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and increasing survival rate of hepatocytes. Glabridin has effect in melanogenesis and inflammation by inhibiting the tyrosinase activity of melanocytes. α-glycyhrritinic acid exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting glucocorticoid metabolism. In present study ethanolic (95%) extract of root of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its fractions were investigated for its antidyslipidaemic activity on HFD induced dyslipidaemic hamsters. Ethanolic extract and its ethyl acetate soluble, water soluble and hexane soluble fractions decreased serum level of total cholesterol by 25.9, 38.0, 39.0 and 26.3%, respectively. On the other hand ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble, water soluble and hexane soluble fraction increased the serum HDL-cholesterol level by 14.8, 34.3, 27.3 and 17.2%, respectively. Ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate fraction, aqueous fraction and hexane fraction decreased triglyceride level by 31.3, 37.2, 41.2 and 28.9%, respectively. The reduction in LDL-cholesterol level by ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble fraction and water soluble fraction were 43.9, 31.0, 33.4 and 24.6%, respectively.

Chemical constituents and antifilarial activity of Lantana camara against human lymphatic filariid Brugia malayi and rodent filariid Acanthocheilonema viteae maintained in rodent hosts.

Lymphatic filariasis continues to be a major health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. A macrofilaricidal agent capable of eliminating adult filarial parasites is urgently needed. In the present study, we report the antifilarial activity in the extract of stem portion of the plant Lantana camara. The crude extract at 1 g/kg for 5 days by oral route killed 43.05% of the adult Brugia malayi parasites and sterilized 76% of surviving female worms in the rodent model Mastomys coucha. A 34.5% adulticidal activity along with sterilization of 66% of female worms could be demonstrated in the chloroform fraction. Remarkable antifilarial activity was observed in the adult B. malayi transplanted gerbil model where up to 80% of the adult worms could be killed at the same dose and all the surviving female parasites were found sterilized. The extract was also found effective against a subcutaneous rodent filariid Acanthocheilonema viteae maintained in Mastomys coucha, where it exerted strong microfilaricidal (95.04%) and sterilization (60.66%) efficacy with mild macrofilaricidal action. Two compounds, oleanonic acid and oleanolic acid, isolated from hexane and chloroform fractions showed LC100 at 31.25 and 62.5 mug/ml, respectively, on B. malayi in vitro. This is the first ever report on the antifilarial efficacy of Lantana camara.